The Deep End, Vol. 1

Additional The Deep End, Vol. 1 Information

Gov't Mule elected to continue as a four-piece with the addition of a full-time keyboardist, and the material on The Deep End serves as a great introduction to this new direction. While most tracks are reminiscent of their three previous studio outings, many also take advantage of the expanded instrumental arsenal to stretch out a bit, particularly on "Down and Out in New York City," with its jazzy stylings, and "Sco-Mule," with its classic Santana-esque delivery. Through it all, the distinctive and powerful vocals, guitar playing, and songwriting of the ridiculously talented Haynes ensures that the end result is a cohesive collection of material that will delight fans while bringing many new admirers on board. --Eric Wilson

What Customers Say About The Deep End, Vol. 1:

Great idea having all of the great bassists. Warren Haynes is the Hardest working man in the biz. Love what these guys do. You gotta catch them live. Like all of their stuff except Mighty High.

Gov't Mule has been lumped into the jam band category, but their music is hardly just noodling solos, half-a*sed melodies and nonsense lyrics. DEAD wrong. It's nothing but boring, industrial-ish reggae. A little jazz influence, too, of course. For me, it was a waste of money. And they do like to solo--hey, it's Warren Haynes with the Allman Brothers, after all--but their material, along with the Black Crowes' latest offerings, is heads and shoulders above ANY hard/southern/blues rock band out there today. Their albums are cohesive, SOLID, INTENSE, GREAT SONGS. Get ALL of Gov't Mule albums if you like Skynyrd, the Allmans, Led Zeppelin, Blackfoot, the Black Crowes.you will be KICKING yourself for not discovering this band years ago.The only album of theirs I DON'T recommend is their latest--Mighty High.

For a long time I avoided Gov't Mule because I thought they were just a jam band with long, boring, jazzy songs. Boy, was I wrong. If you like that kind of music, then fine, you'll probably like it. I just hope their next effort is back to the blues rock that they are best known for.

Some high quality Mule, here. Bluesy, funky, groovy, innovative.the merits of this album, which features a guest bassist on every song in place of their recently lost Allen Woody, go on and on. Everything you want from Gov't Mule is here. From hard rockers, such as "Fool's Moon" and "Life on the Outside," to very well constructed, bluesy ballad-esque numbers, like "Banks of the Deep End," and "Effigy," to tracks with strong roots in gospel and R&B, this album has it all.

Which is to say, that it totally rocks -- uncompromisingly, eloquently, and sometimes, unnervingly. If you like real solid, hard-edged blues-rock with attitude and eloquence (think "Cry of Love" and others) then you will 100% dig this.Like other new fans, I wound up starting at the present and working backwards -- starting with "High and Mighty" and working back through time. In my "next" review (actually the first I've done) I mention(ed) that I had only been exposed to "Gov't Mule" over the past year, and an excellent introduction it was. Real powerful, outstanding stuff here, folks.It's a no-brainer. The "Deep End" project, Vols 1 and 2, were apparently an experiment by the band to "test drive" a whole bunch of bassists after the death of their original bassist, Andy Woodie. You'd think that it'd be all over the map, stylistically -- but no, it's really very cohesive, and definitely "sounds like Gov't Mule" throughout. If you already dig powerful-strong, high-amp blues-rock then you will definitely rock out to and dig this. 'Nuff said.

It is hard to beat Southern Rock done right, and Gov't Mule has the genre down pat. My favorites; Banks Of The Deep End (with a touch of Thick As A Brick of all things), Worried Down With The Blues, and the beautiful Beautifully Broken.Just when you thought there was no hope for today's music, Southern Rock returns. Thanks Mule.